Ask @DadandBuried: How Do We Deal with Political Talk at Thanksgiving Dinner?
The election could still be up in the air by the time Thanksgiving rolls around. How do we handle potential political tension at dinner?
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Regardless of your affiliation, nobody likes getting into political arguments (except for every single person on Facebook, obviously), especially on a national holiday.
The coronavirus hasn’t given us much; it’s mostly been taking things away. But it may offer the perfect escape clause. You mention that it’s your turn to host Thanksgiving, but… maybe it isn’t? With flu season arriving and COVID-19 numbers surging again, it might be a good year to hold off on the big holiday gathering.
There has never been a better reason to avoid your in-laws than the global pandemic that is starting to bubble back up. Don’t want to discuss the presidential election with your father-in-law over mashed potatoes? Then don’t! Tell them you don’t want to take the chance of getting them sick and take a raincheck on hosting.
That way you can skip the debate over BLM and MAGA and antifa and the Supreme Court and enjoy a low-key holiday yelling at your kids to sit still and finish their stuffing. Just like a normal year!
If the in-laws are desperate to see the kids, offer to do a Zoom Thanksgiving instead, and the first time someone mentions politics, turn off the Wi-Fi. If they’re anything like my in-laws, they won’t be able to figure it out anyway.
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